slemish on Big Collin

Climbed Big Collin for the third time this afternoon. The hill is now much more accessible thanks to the recent enlargement of the wind farm. I parked at the site entrance on the B94 between Ballyclare and Broughshane (A (J239 971)). From there it's a half-mile walk on the gravel track round to the western side and the wind farm itself. The turbines are really quite enormous when you get up close to them and the blades make a delightful 'swooshing' sound as they turn. Head for the turbine which is highest up the slope. From here it's an easy climb to the summit cairn at 353m. Magnificent views to Slemish and the higher Antrim hills, the Belfast hills and the Sperrins. To complete the walk I descended by the much steeper eastern slope back to the site entrance. A very easy but enjoyable trip - you can be up and down in 40 minutes. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/898/comment/3691/

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gerrym on Big Collin

Colin is one of the foothills rising from the Lough Neagh basin before the higher Antrim Hills rise to the occasion. This is no disrespect and it has a shapely form which perhaps upstages its bigger siblings in some ways.

Access from the SE is from one of the entrances serving the windfarms (B (J223 958)). There is a double gate affording limited parking beside the service track - a 'Beware of the Bull' sign adorned the gate, though he was otherwise engaged today. A short walk up along the track brings Elliots Hill windfarm, run by ScottishPower Renewables, warning of the danger of entering in wet and freezing conditions or during lightning - today only had the freezing fortunately. On the track two sheep approached side by side and stopped, walked a little further and stopped again - like two gunslingers trying to unnerve me before drawing guns - then they just ran off like sheep and the moment was lost!

The track weaves around the wind turbines reaching a small cairn at Elliots Hill. The few inches of powder snow coating the ground perhaps concealing some of the changes to the terrain caused by the windfarm - though signs encourage staying on the tracks as there is an environmental management plan in place. The track drops down through a couple of gates, leaving Elliots Hill windfarm and reaching the five newer turbines at Wolf Bog on the way up to Colin. These were turning at a more liesurely pace and thier curved blades looked like giant starfish against the cold blue sky. Turn off the track for the short climb to the top of Colin. Extensive views reach to the Sperrins in the west, the higher Antrim hills to the north, and the Belfast Hills and Lough Neagh to the east and south. Return is by the same route.

A short walk of just over one hour and about 5km, made more interesting by the covering of snow i think, but still plenty to hold the attention - perhaps a good one with the kids in the summer in terms of education. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/898/comment/3572/

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three5four0 on Big Collin

Access to Big Collin is very straight forward, as a track has been created to serve the new wind farm on its n/e side. There is ample space to park up and not block the entrance (at A (J239 971)), there is however a picnic area a further 500 metres north east along the B94, which would be preferable when the wind farm access track is in use. It really is a short walk of no more than a k to the summit, which resembles a burial cairn, complete with a depression in its top, as if a chamber has collapsed. Nice views too! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/898/comment/3348/

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Wolf Ghosts and Wind

'I'm planning to go up Big Collin tomorrow, anyone fancy coming with me?' - cue raucous laughter and ribald comments from friends. I ended up going on my own. The start is quite easy to find. Its the entrance to the Wolf Bog Wind Farm on the Collin Road (B94). You can park by the gates and follow the site track. Eventually I got bored and headed straight up towards the collapsed cairn at the top. Views of Slemish and the Belfast Hills with Tildarg dam just below. The tempation to visit the huge wind turbines proved irresistable. There are 15 of these monsters. They make a swooshing sound like blood pumping round a body. You can follow the path back from the turbines to the start or just retrace your steps back over the cairn. There must have been a sizeable wolf population around the area at one time. It's said the last wolf in Ireland was killed in nearby Glenwherry (although its not the only place to claim this dubious honour). Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/898/comment/6633/

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Permission required?

Hi there
Can anybody tell me if permission is required to walk up Big Collin? If so, how does one go about obtaining this?
Many thanks! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/898/comment/20083/

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